Horse c. 1865 - 1870

Curator: There's a certain nervous energy to William Rimmer's sketch, "Horse," isn't there? Held in the Harvard Art Museums, it's quite small, just a few inches. Editor: It feels caught, like it's rearing up against some invisible force, even though the line work is so delicate. It's a raw, untamed spirit, almost a frantic gesture. Curator: Rimmer, born in 1816, was an interesting character, wasn't he? A medical lecturer who also sculpted and painted. The anatomical precision he must have developed clearly informs the musculature here. Editor: True, but I see more than just anatomy. The sketch feels almost like a psychological study. Is the horse afraid? Defiant? He gets so much across with so little, a few quick strokes. Curator: I wonder if this drawing played a part in the popularization of horses in art, given the era, and how it might've reflected broader societal fascinations. Editor: Whatever the reason, Rimmer’s horse still gallops through the heart, doesn't it? An enduring image, sketched with such vulnerable, open confidence.